Pongal gift hamper distribution commences; Speaker Appavu inaugurates distribution in Tirunelveli

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu inaugurated on Thursday the distribution of Pongal gift hampers to rice cardholders and families at the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps.

Each gift hamper contains ₹3,000 in cash, 1 kg raw rice, 1 kg jaggery, a dhoti, a saree and a sugarcane. In Tirunelveli district, 5,01,769 cardholders and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees will receive this gift through 796 ration shops.

District Revenue Officer M. Durai, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, Palayamkottai MLA M. Abdul Wahab, Deputy Mayor K. R. Raju, Vice-Chairman of Kalakkad municipality P. C. Rajan and others were present.

District Collector R. Sukumar said an official in the rank of Deputy Collector has been appointed for every taluk to ensure hassle-free and proper distribution of ‘Pongal’ gift hampers to the cardholders. District Revenue Officer, Tirunelveli, (for Tirunelveli taluk), Officer of District Inspection Committee (for Palayamkottai), Special Deputy Collector – Social Security Schemes (for Manur), District Manager, THADCO (for Ambasamudram), Sub-Collector, Cheranmahadevi (for Cheranmahadevi), District Consumer Protection Officer (for Nanguneri), District Backward Class Welfare Officer (for Radhapuram) and Special Deputy Collector – Revenue Court (for Thisaiyanvilai).

Since the district administration has planned to complete the gift hamper distribution before Pongal, Friday (January 9) will be working day for the ration shops. To control crowding in the ration shops, tokens carrying the date and time of distribution of gift hampers are being distributed to the cardholders.

“Anyone in the family can go to the ration shop with the card and get the gift hamper after the distribution is recorded through point of sale. Once the distribution is completed, message will be sent to the beneficiary,” Dr. Sukumar said.

The cardholders can call the following officers for registering complaints about any discrepancy in the distribution of Pongal gift hamper:

District Distribution and Consumer Protection Office – 93424 71314, Special Tahsildar (Civil Supplies), Tirunelveli – 94450 00380, Taluk Supplies Officer, Palayamkottai 94450 00381, Taluk Supplies Officer, Maanur – 94457 96458, Special Tahsildar (Civil Supplies), Ambasamudram – 94450 00386, Taluk Supplies Officer, Cheranmahadevi – 94457 96459, Taluk Supplies Officer, Nanguneri – 94450 00387, Taluk Supplies Officer, Radhapuram – 94450 00388 and Taluk Supplies Officer, Thisaiyanvilai – 94999 37025.

Moreover, complaints can also be registered through 1967 or 1800 425 5901, the Collector said.

In Tenkasi district Collector A. K. Kamal Kishore inaugurated the distribution of the Pongal gift hamper at Maththalamparai in the presence of Tenkasi MLA S. Palani Nadar.

A total of 4,79,753 rice cardholders and 184 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in the district will receive the gift.